French fishermen opt to extend protest over fuel
PARIS, May 26 (Reuters) - Fishermen from 11 of France's largest trawler ports voted on Monday to extend their protest over high fuel costs for 48 hours despite moves by some to return to sea.
The price of marine diesel has surged by 30 percent in the past four months and trawler owners have said they will go bust unless the government subsidises their diesel.
A government pledge to grant 110 million euros ($173 million) in aid this year has prompted some fishermen to go back to work after blockading ports for more than a week. It was dismissed as too insignificant a measure by others.
"We have voted for a strike which can be renewed," union leader Jean-Pierre Noel told Reuters.
Fishermen opting to carry on with strike action were demanding that marine diesel be priced at 40 euro cents per litre and that European fishing quotas were sufficient to enable industry players to survive, he said.
Splits appeared in the fishermen's protest over the weekend, with some fishing fleets suspending their campaign while others pressed ahead with blockades of ports and oil depots.
Fishermen blocked various ports on Monday as well as the fuel depot of Total's (TOTF.PA) 328,000 barrels per day Gonfreville refinery.
Stressing that the challenges facing the fishing industry were a European rather than French problem, Agriculture Minister Michel Barnier urged European member countries to re-think the existing system of financial handouts.
France's ability to grant funds to fishermen was stymied by rules capping the amount any member state can give without authorisation from the European Commission, he said.
Barnier called for a review of the rules.
"If we realise that the price of diesel is compromising the very existence of European fishing, need we not ask questions about the ceiling for "minimis aid"?" he asked, referring to financial help which can be given without notifying the Commission.
"Fishing policy is not fixed forever. The problem is European and the price of diesel affects everyone," Barnier said on the sidelines of an informal meeting of farm ministers in Slovenia. (additional reporting by Muriel Boselli) (Reporting by Thierry Leveque, writing by Tamora Vidaillet; Editing by Elizabeth Piper)
